The Management At Visit Wales Are Still Refusing To Answer Fair Questions

Sent to an anonymous correspondent in Tourism and Marketing in the Welsh Government with a copy going to Jack Sargeant MS. Question five I think is particularly insightful into the idiocy of Welsh Government management of onboarding onto the Visit Wales platform. No response, even an acknowledgement, has been received and we expect no response as the Welsh government is unaccountable and government staff achieve this by not responding to specific questions.

Following the sale of Wales Outdoors and it being listed just a week later by the Visit Wales onboarding team, following their refusal to list Wales Outdoors whilst it was owned by Andrew Lamb, Andy has these questions which we think are fairly put and demand an answer…

‘I therefore have five questions.

1. Why was I led to believe by all contacts at Visit Wales, since March of 2020, that to sell anything outdoors from a simple guided walk of more than 30 minutes from the leader’s vehicle to any adventure activity the seller required accreditation?

2. Why did Jon Munro specifically state that all, including accommodation providers and tour companies, required accreditation if selling hikes or adventure activities and he was looking at removing some that I had highlighted, for example, The Butchers Arms in Pontsticill, the example used to 'invent' the 'report it here' button?

3. Why when I was seeking clarification on this matter, using specific businesses and asking why they were able to be listed, not one member of Visit Wales staff had the courtesy to respond? 

4. Why do many unaccredited businesses, who are delivering guided walks, remain live on the Visit Wales website?

5. Why does Visit Wales think it is either good or acceptable practice to allow any unaccredited person, even someone not resident in the UK, to subcontract adventure activities to whomever they choose, be they qualified or unqualified, and to sell those subcontracted activities on the Visit Wales platform, whilst at the same time disallowing qualified and resident in Wales outdoor professionals the freedom to sell themselves in a similar manner?’

You can book our walks through the Wales Outdoors Website.

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